Variety of Calla Lily plant named &#34;Summer Sun&#34;

ABSTRACT

‘Summer Sun’ is a new variety of calla lily having inflorescences with a yellow-colored spathe that produces 5-20 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 35 cm in height, and the leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/964,771, filed on Jan. 14, 2014, and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Zantedeschia sprengeri

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘SUMMER SUN’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Summer Sun’.

‘Summer Sun’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Red Sox’ (female parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,063) with Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Sunglow’ (male parent, unpatented). ‘Summer Sun’ was selected in 2004 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Summer Sun’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2007 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in a 14 cm pot in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Summer Sun’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Yellow-colored spathe having a pink blush;

2. Green-colored leaves with numerous white-colored and linear spots; and

3. High inflorescence production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Summer Sun’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri varieties ‘Red Sox’ and ‘Sunglow’.

TABLE 1 ‘Summer Sun’ Similarities Differences ‘Red Sox’ Plant height Spathe color Number of spathes Spathe shape ‘Sunglow’ Number of spathes Spathe shape Plant height Spathe color

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an overhead view of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a side view of the new variety

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   The plant: -   Size:     -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—10-40 cm.         -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—10-40 cm.         -   Diameter.—20-40 cm. -   Form: Erect. -   Number of inflorescences per tuber:     -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—5-7 inflorescences.         -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—6-12 inflorescences.         -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—7-20 inflorescences. -   Branches:     -   -   Character.—Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 18,833.         -   Color.—Between Green Group RHS 137A and 137B. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Width: 4.5-13 cm. Length: 12-24 cm.         -   Number per plant.—20-35.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137A to Greyed-Green             Group RHS 189A. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137A to 137C.         -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color of Green Group RHS 137A to             Greyed-Green Group RHS 189A.         -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 137C             to 137D.         -   Surface quality.—Leathery.         -   Petiole.—Length: 7-25 cm. Color: The base is White Group RHS             155A, and the upper part is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A to             144B. -   Roots:     -   -   Color.—White.         -   Branching.—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties. -   The inflorescence and seeds: -   Spathe:     -   -   Size.—Length (measured from base opening to tip): 4-8 cm.             Width: 3-6 cm. Height: 4-8 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 9A to             9B. Lower surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 9A to 9B.         -   Vein color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 9A to 9B.         -   Shape.—Cupped. -   Spadix:     -   -   Size.—Length: 30-45 mm. Diameter: 3-8 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A and 17B.         -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Size.—Length: 10-35 cm. Diameter: 4-11 mm.         -   Color.—The upper part is between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A             and 144B, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.         -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.         -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.         -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.             Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Similar to ‘Picasso’             (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS             155A and 155B.         -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between             Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A and 17B.         -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group             RHS 155A and 155B.         -   Pistil.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1             mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group             RHS 13B and 13C.         -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Yellow-Green             Group RHS 150C and 150D, bottom color is from White Group             RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C. -   Seeds:     -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.         -   Width.—3-6 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.         -   Amount.—Between 1-50. -   General: -   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to     date. -   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date. -   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance. -   Hardiness: Not hardy. -   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in     February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted outdoors in     The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in July. -   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant. -   Fragrance: None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily named ‘Summer Sun’ as herein described and illustrated. 